Star Diary

Unsafe Train Journey

We had to wait over four hours for our train from Dhaka to Chittagong to depart. The passengers were fast asleep when they were awakened by the scream of a woman. As we tried to drowsily understand what was going on, we saw a young boy jump from the running train! We were shocked by this but the upcoming news shocked us even further. The boy apparently had stolen the woman's bag which contained money, her cell phone and a doctor's prescription. A few minutes later, three policemen entered our bogey and when we explained what had happened, they replied carelessly that as this was a local train, it's difficult to identify whether the people who get on the train are passengers or evildoers! The Railway authorities should up their game. They should ensure that the trains maintain their schedules and that people can enjoy a safe and secure train journey.
Mohammed Jamal Uddin
Executive at RafaSoft Systems
Chittagong

Ungrateful Doctors

Four months ago, my grandmother had surgery done in her eyes. We later got to know that the doctors who were responsible for looking after her health had actually scratched an inner membrane of her right eye. But they did not even care to inform us about it and we were unable to understand why my grandmother still complained of pain after the surgery. They made up some excuses, behaving rudely with us when we demanded a more detailed explanation. From a doctor from another hospital, we came to know what must have happened and he further informed us that this kind of injury at this age was untreatable. I was shocked that the doctors were not even moved by the painful cries of an old woman, deciding to sacrifice her health for their ignorance. I don't usually pay much attention to the speeches of political leaders as they seem shallow to me. But I was impressed by the bold speech of our prime minister who declared to all doctors, “If you further revolt against working, you'll lose your job. You cannot forget that all the people of this country starting from the rickshaw-puller to the secretary are paying huge amounts in taxes to fund your education. So you should be grateful to them.” Doctors truly disregard this contribution of the people of their country. They seem to sacrifice all their ethics, forget their oaths as soon as they graduate from medical school. There are a few doctors who still have humanity left within them but most of them enter this profession only to earn bucket loads of money. I appeal all doctors to please sustain the dignity of this great profession without hankering after money. Take your patients seriously and try to be a bit kinder to them.
Fahima Yeasmin
University of Barisal